Mill Creek Greenway TAP recommends trails, rezoning and local financing tools to connect neighborhoods

A multi‑organization team presented recommendations to the South Salt Lake City Council for the Mill Creek Greenway, arguing that a connected trail and riparian protection strategy could improve neighborhood access and watershed health. Presenters included Sharen Hauri (City of South Salt Lake), Ronnie Pessetto (Seven Canyons Trust) and representatives from ULI Utah; the slide deck credited interviews with more than 40 stakeholders.

Key recommendations included improved citywide connectivity to Parley’s Trail and downtown South Salt Lake, wayfinding and pavement treatments to visually mark the creek corridor, and road‑diet and sidewalk investments on Main and West Temple to support safer crossings. For creekside access the panel proposed a trail and park experience between West Temple and Main, a pedestrian bridge at Richards Street, a mini‑park near the TRAX intersection and pocket parks at local intersections.

The TAP recommended zoning changes to encourage private investment that supports greenway goals: expand mixed‑use zoning, perform a comprehensive zoning analysis, and create a riparian overlay zone for the Mill Creek corridor with grandfather protections and incentives for property improvements. Presenters also urged the city to pursue grants and local financing options, specifically recommending exploration of a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and a Public Infrastructure District (PID) to fund infrastructure tied to the greenway.

The presenters closed the deck with a summative phrase displayed on the slides: “Stream restoration is neighborhood restoration,” attributed on the slide to Ann Riley of Mill Creek Restoration. Council members were presented with technical recommendations and financing tools; the slide material frames next steps as policy and zoning analyses and partnership development rather than immediate council action.